Chrysanthemum named Golden Bounty

ABSTRACT

A new variety of chrysanthemum of the composite and incurved standard type distinguished by the bright yellow color of its medium sized blooms, its year around flowering capability with photoperiod control, its nine-week response, and its vigorous, upright and terminal habit of growth.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

This new chrysanthemum cultivar originated as a sport of the whiteblossomed variety "Bounty" (Ser. No. 955,002, filed 10-6-78) growing ingreenhouse at West Chicago, Ill., and was discovered by me in 1976during the course of my breeding efforts carried on for the purpose ofdeveloping new and improved chrysanthemum varieties. This sport wasreproduced by me at West Chicago, Ill., by means of vegetative cuttingsfor test of its character and subsequent propagation of the new plant bycuttings through successive generations has shown that its distinctivecharacteristics hold true from generation to generation and appear to befirmly fixed. This plant is now being grown on a commercial scale atCortez, Fla., as well as at West Chicago, Ill.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

My new variety of chrysanthemum plant is illustrated by the accompanyingdrawings, one sheet of which is a photographic view showing the flowerform and color characteristics of the plant in full bloom, this viewhaving been hand painted with permanent colors to show the true flowercoloring, and the second sheet being a print of a machine copy oftypical leaves of this new plant at several stages of its maturity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of my new chrysanthemum varietywith color designations according to The R.H.S. Colour Chart publishedby The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

THE PLANT

Origin: Sport.

Parentage: "Bounty" (Ser. No. 955,002, filed 10-6-78).

Classification

Botanic.--Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Commercial.--Greenhouse cut flower plant.

Form: Perennial herbaceous bush.

Height: 104 to 125 cm.

Growth: Terminal, upright and vigorous, with sturdy stems of very goodstrength.

Branching: Normal when grown under natural conditions.

Foliage:

Quantity.--Abundant, 4 to 5 leaves on about 15 cm. of stem length.

Size of leaf.--Length -- about 8.5 to 15.4 cm. Width -- about 4.4 to 9.5cm.

Leaf shape.--Lobed, lanceolate and slightly serrated.

Surface aspect.--Canescent.

Color.--Upper side -- 147A. Under side -- 147B.

Venation.--Pinnately veined.

Petioles.--Length -- about 1.6 to 3.7 cm.

THE BUD

Form: Elliptical

Diameter: About 15 to 18 mm.

Depth: About 9 to 11 mm.

Opening Rate: The bud opens slowly.

Color:

When phyllaries first divide.--6D.

When florets begin to unfurl.--12B.

Phyllaries: The outside of the receptacle bears many involucral bractswhich are upstanding and spear-shaped.

Color.--Inside -- 137A. Outside -- 137B.

Surface aspect.--Pubescent.

Peduncle: Erect and strong, and about 2.5 to 4.0 cm. in length.

Surface aspect.--Pubescent.

THE FLOWER

Flowering capability: Recommended for year around flowering withphotoperiod control.

Response.--9 weeks.

Natural flowering season.--October 27 to November 5.

Blooms:

Flower type.--Composite and incurved standard.

Size.--Medium. Diameter -- about 11 to 14.5 cm. Depth -- about 9 to 12cm.

Borne.--Singly, each bloom comprising a head of many florets borne on areceptacle.

Shape.--When bloom first opens -- cup-shaped with a high center. Asbloom matures, the shape becomes globular.

Florets: Numerous in number.

Form.--Linear, spoon-shaped, and incurved, with obtuse apex.

    ______________________________________                                        Color:               April      June                                          ______________________________________                                                  Outer florets:                                                                Upper side -                                                                             5C         5C                                                      Reverse side -                                                                           5D         5D                                                      Inside florets:                                                               Upper side -                                                                             5B         5B                                                      Reverse side -                                                                           6D         6D                                            ______________________________________                                    

Firmness.--Medium.

Appearance.--A very slight shine.

Discoloration.--Very little fade after full bloom.

Persistence.--The florets hang on and dry.

Peduncle: Upright and sturdy.

Length.--About 2.5 to 4.0 cm.

Color.--147B.

Fragrance: Typical chrysanthemum.

Lasting quality:

On plant.--3 to 4 weeks.

As a cut flower.--10 to 17 days.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Arrangement.--Syngenesious. Number -- 5.

Filaments.--About 2 to 4 mm. in length.

Color.--Light yellow.

Pollen.--Color -- yellow.

Pistils:

Number.--1 to each ray and disc floret.

Styles.--4 to 6 mm. in length.

Stigma.--Color -- yellow.

Ovaries: Inferior, bicarpellate.

This new cultivar of standard chrysanthemum, when compared to its parentvariety "Bounty" (Ser. No. 955,002, filed 10-6-78), is characterized inuniqueness by the medium yellow color of its blooms. Otherwise, this newplant is quite similar to its parent with respect to its growth andflowering characteristics.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of standard chrysanthemum of thegreenhouse cut flower type, substantially as herein shown and described,particularly characterized in uniqueness, when compared with its parentvariety which has white blooms, by the medium yellow coloration of theblooms.